Category: Health (Reviews)

Rumi Earth’s Sun Yoga Mat is made from sustainable materials from a minority-owned small business that provides adequate support for your joints — a great choice for newbies and seasoned pros alike.

Pros: Plenty of padding, biodegradable, non-toxic materials, durable, multiple lengths, great for yogis of all levels, minority-owned small business

Cons: None

A minority-owned yoga and athleisure brand, Rumi Earth focuses on sustainability and conscious sourcing of non-toxic materials for its products. The Sun yoga mat is available in multiple lengths, widths, and color options. Every Rumi Earth mat is also entirely biodegradable.

Made from cotton fibers and natural rubber, this mat is eco-friendly with excellent grip and durability. With its open-cell design, I had no problems with traction, even while dripping sweat all over during my cardio pilates sessions.

What’s more, this mat is subtly more padded than most at 4.3mm instead of the standard 3mm. Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CSCS, physical therapist at Fusion Wellness and Physical Therapy in California, told Insider that thicker yoga mats can also help in cushioning common pressure points for anyone, like the sacrum, heels, and greater trochanters in your hips.

As someone with chondromalacia patellae in both knees, I need a thicker yoga mat for less pressure on my joints. I found Rumi Earth’s Sun Yoga mat’s 4.3mm to hit the sweet spot of being enough padding for me, but not so excessive that it’ll bother those without any joint pain (you probably won’t even notice it’s thicker than standard). 

The best budget yoga mat

Hugger Mugger’s Gallery Collection Yoga Mats are dual-sided, lightweight, and highly affordable for yogis on a budget.

Pros: Lightweight, latex-free, colorful designs

Cons: Not as durable, can shift around during practice, slippery

A dependable, comfortable yoga mat is important to help you “create the sanctuary you need,” according to Laroia, even for beginners. And that doesn’t have to come with a high price tag.

Hugger Mugger’s Gallery Collection Yoga Mat is made from PER material, weighs just 2.2lbs, and comes in colorful choices — all for under $35. These thoughtfully-designed mats are also ideal for yogis on the go as they are incredibly lightweight and easy to roll up.

Featuring a closed-cell design, the mats are non-porous to moisture and dirt; however, that of course means they become slippery the more you sweat (which was definitely my experience). This mat is best suited for less intensive flows like yin or hatha yoga, or will need a full-length yoga mat towel with non-slip grip for added absorbency over top.

I also don’t recommend it for fast-paced flows — especially if you practice on tile like me — as the mat tends to shift around when moving quickly from one asana to the next.

This mat offers the standard 3mm of padding. If you’re a yogi like me that needs more cushioning under the joints when you practice, opt for the Gallery Collection Ultra Yoga Mats. At 6mm thick, these well-cushioned mats offer double the padding and comfort as you flow through your practice.

The best eco-friendly yoga mat

Made from 100% sustainably sourced non-Amazon rubber, Hugger Mugger’s Para Rubber yoga mats are non-toxic, durable and when it’s time to retire, completely biodegradable as well.

Pros: Environmentally-friendly, well-cushioned, natural rubber, sturdy

Cons: Heavy, latex can aggravate allergies for some, expensive

Made from 100% non-Amazon sustainably sourced rubber, this eco-friendly mat is dual-sided — if you sweat a lot, pick the woven-like side, which offers excellent grip during hot yoga sessions, while the smooth side, which is still grippy, can be used for more relaxed classes.

The Para Rubber mat is 24 by 70 inches but also comes in an XL version (24 by 78in) for taller yogis. At 6.4mm thick, I find the mat to be very comfortable on the knees and wrists, especially when practicing quicker-paced, Vinyasa and Ashtanga yoga flows. Thicker, denser mats, Laroia explained, are best for ensuring better stability during your practice.

At $95, this yoga mat is undoubtedly an investment, but its sustainable manufacturing process, thick cushioning, and reversible nature justify the price. Not to mention its non-slip grip means sweaty yogis don’t have to buy an additional yoga towel.

The only downsides are that you have to clean it frequently thanks to its open-cell design structure (which equals more porous), and some yogis may find the initial natural rubber smell to be overpowering. However, in my experience, the smell went away after regularly wiping down and airing out my mat in the first few weeks.

The best socially-responsible yoga mat

Sustainably made in India, Kosha Yoga Co.’s range of PUre Couture Yoga Mats benefit the local communities they are produced in — a percentage of each sale goes to two local non-profits, Maee Home for the Blind and the Kalote Animal Trust.

Pros: Sustainable, PVC-free materials, socially-conscious, colorful floral patterns, sturdy design

Cons: Expensive, initial rubber smell

Focused on sustainability and giving back to the community, Kosha Yoga Co.’s PUre Couture Yoga Mats are entirely biodegradable thanks to the mat’s recycled-PU top layer and dense, natural rubber base.

At 27 by 73 inches, the PUre Couture mat is broader and longer than a standard yoga mat, making it a great pick for taller yogis. I love that it also comes with a carrying strap, which, in a pinch, can also double as a yoga strap.

With 4.5mm of cushioning, there’s enough padding between your joints and the floor. And, thanks to its sturdy rubber base, the mat stays firmly in place during power yoga flows; its non-slip top layer makes this a good choice for sweaty yogis.

Apart from the use of eco-friendly materials, this sustainable Mumbai-based athleisure brand gives a percentage of each sale back to the local community. In addition, Kosha Yoga Co. provides career opportunities to women in Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum — its line of yoga mat bags and meditation cushions are entirely handmade there.

The best thick yoga mat

The Manduka PRO is thicker and longer than your average mat, making it a great choice for taller yogis and those who need extra padding.

Pros: Extra dense and padded, available in two sizes (85-inch variety is ideal for taller yogis), lifetime guarantee

Cons: Heavy, expensive, may need a towel for hot yoga or if you sweat a lot

The Manduka yoga mats are leaders in the yoga community and highly recommended by teachers. We love the Manduka PRO in particular because, as Laroia puts it, “This mat does everything.”

However, the Manduka PRO’s price tag is steep at $130 ($155 for the extra long, 71×85-inch version), which means it’s not a good pick for everyone. But if you need a longer mat or more padding, this Manduka yoga mat is worth the money.

At 6mm thick, it has the right amount of cushioning without being soft and provides ideal support for your knees and joints, allowing practitioners such as myself extra comfort when practicing. As Gondek’s preferred mat of choice for five years, she finds the PRO yoga mat “very comfortable on the knees and sacrum during quadruped and supine positions.”

The PVC-mat is made using an emissions-free process and has a closed-cell design, creating a non-porous surface that lengthens its life span. This prevents moisture and bacteria from being absorbed into the mat; however, closed-cell mats can get slippery and are not great on their own for hot yoga or if you sweat a lot (though this is easily solved by throwing a yoga towel on top).

Perhaps best of all, Manduka’s lifetime guarantee for its PRO series makes the mat a worthwhile long-term investment. If you do experience flaking or peeling of your yoga mat, which happened to my first Manduka mat, they’ll send you a replacement at no cost.

Best budget alternative: For a more affordable mat, I recommend the Hugger Mugger Earth Elements 5mm Yoga Mat. At 2.4 lbs, this mat is lightweight and extremely easy to carry from home to yoga studio without sacrificing on thickness. Made from non-toxic TPE, it features a closed-cell design, and is also a great latex-free pick.

The best travel yoga mat

Manduka’s Eko SuperLite Travel Yoga Mat is slim and lightweight enough to bring with you no matter how far you roam without compromising grippiness.

Pros: Lightweight, easy to maintain, thin enough to fold, signature grip, durable material

Cons: Thin

Lightweight travel mats let you keep up with your practice on the road without borrowing a questionable yoga mat from your hotel (or worse — down-dogging directly on the carpet). The Manduka Eko SuperLite Travel Mat is the lighter, thinner version of Manduka’s top-ranked Eko option.

It’s made of a woven scrim material that won’t tear or stretch either with use or in your suitcase. “I’ve used this mat for over two years, and just like any other Manduka, the mat has held up very well during travel,” Gondek said. “Even on camping trips with plenty of dirt and grime.”

It’s thin enough to be foldable so that you can tuck the mat away into your backpack or your carry-on without added weight or bulk. Thanks to Manduka’s signature sweat-resistant closed-cell design, this mat stays drier and cleaner for longer. But, if you end up signing up for a hot yoga class during your travels, Gondek recommends bringing a non-slip grip yoga mat towel along. — Rachael Schultz and Christabel Lobo

The best yoga mat for sweaty yogis

Whether you’re a yogi who sweats a lot during workouts, or you enjoy the sweat-inducing practice of hot yoga, the JadeYoga Harmony Mat is what you need to avoid slipping and sliding.

Pros: Non-slip surface, plenty of cushioning, multiple length options, multiple color options

Cons: Some may find the cushioning too much for their preference, expensive

If your yoga practice works up enough of a sweat that most mats become dangerously slippery, JadeYoga’s Harmony Mat will keep you safe. Made from natural rubber with tiny dots instead of a smooth, sleek surface, the Harmony Mat’s design provides great traction and minimizes slipping. The texture is small enough it goes unnoticed by your hands and knees, even after a 60-minute session.

The mat is incredibly comfortable, too. Featuring thick enough cushioning to protect your knees and back from getting dinged while practicing, it’s not too thick to hinder movement.

JadeYoga offers the Harmony Mat in two different sizes, as well as a dozen different colors and prints. It is on the spendy side at $85 for the longest option, but for sweaty yogis, that’s often cheaper (and way more convenient) than purchasing a mat plus absorbent towel. — Kaitlin Gates

Read our review of the JadeYoga Harmony Mat.

The best washable yoga mat

The Yogi Bare Teddy is machine washable without sacrificing quality or durability over time and use.

Pros: Machine-washable, grippy microfiber top, natural rubber bottom stays in place, comes in a variety of fun patterns

Cons: Requires a washing machine, not very padded

Though most mats are easily cleaned with a simple spray and wipe down, if you use it outside or tend to heavily sweat while you practice, it’s convenient to have a mat that can be thrown in the washing machine. The Teddy from Yogi Bare is actually machine washable. I was surprised to find during testing that the washer didn’t compromise its integrity; its natural rubber base and microfiber top stayed as intact as when I first bought it, even after multiple washes.

Even if the Teddy wasn’t machine-washable, it’d still be a great yoga mat. Its microfiber surface is grippy, especially after I’d been sweating a bit on it, and it’s just padded enough that it provides a soft landing whenever my feet (or wayward knees and elbows) hit the ground. It comes in fun patterns and colorways.

It’s cheaper than many other mats on this list. However, it’s also only 2mm thick, so it’s not a great choice if you have any sort of joint pain. — Rick Stella

The best yoga mat for alignment work

The cult-favorite Liforme Mat has a signature printed alignment system on the surface, which promises symmetry, balance, and proper footing during your practice.

Pros: Eco-friendly, extremely sticky, doesn’t wear over time, signature alignment system

Cons: One-size-fits-all alignment doesn’t fit all bodies, very expensive

The Liforme mat has discreet lines, shapes, and markers etched into its surface to help you place your limbs accurately as you move from one asana to the next. Laroia explained that these help you with hand and feet placement and improve your alignment, a key feature for beginner yogis.

The mat is 27 by 73 inches, so longer and wider than most mats. This is great for taller yogis, but if you’re shorter than 5’4″, you may have trouble hitting the recommended alignments.

That being said, I used the Liforme mat for a few weeks and definitely saw the appeal of the lines. Laroia adds, “The mats are good in quality, rivaling my trusty Manduka.” 

Thanks to its proprietary blend of natural rubber and sustainably sourced felt to cushion your knees, hips, and hands, the Liforme mat is exceptionally grippy, preventing you from sliding around during vigorous yoga sessions. It’s also PVC-free, and each layer is heat-bonded to avoid toxic glues and adhesives, making it an eco-friendly choice. 

How we tested these yoga mats

As a decades-long yoga practitioner and 200 RYT Hatha yoga teacher since 2017, most of the yoga mats included have been a regular part of my practice for several years. Others, such as Kosha Yoga Co.’s PUre Couture Mat, were tested daily from February to June 2021.

I spent hours testing the yoga mats out in a variety of yoga disciplines, including yin yoga, invigorating vinyasa flows, and gentle, hour-long Hatha classes, in addition to sweat-inducing cardio and mat pilates-focused workouts to evaluate their grippiness and traction when wet. I practiced on several different surfaces, including tile, carpet, and concrete. I even took the mats outdoors to see how they’d fare in different climates and evaluate their portability and durability. 

Each yoga mat featured in this guide went through a series of on-the-mat tests to see how well they stacked up across these five categories: 

• Performance: The key aspects include how grippy the mat is for helping you hold poses or reliably move a hand or foot (especially once you start sweating), and how comfortable or padded the mat is. 
• Durability: Durability of a mat is what justifies their higher price tags and truly speaks to its sustainability. Be it puddles of sweat or the constant barrage of knees, elbows, heels, and shoulders, a yoga mat is under constant pressure. Yoga mats should be able to take a beating, especially if you use it often. 
• Material: PVC or TPE, all-natural rubber or synthetic, latex — the materials used to make your yoga mat affect all the other categories listed here. PVC mats tend to be the best value; however, they aren’t very eco-friendly or durable. So, while a lower price tag may seem attractive now, in the long run you may end up spending more just replacing your cheaper mats. We consider sustainability a major factor in choosing a mat, so your best bet is to seek out options made from cork, natural, non-Amazon harvested rubber, or recycled materials; some brands, such as Manduka, have its own eco-friendly lines or are OEKO-TEX certified — an European-based textile certification agency focused on sustainable manufacturing processes. Smell is another thing to consider; some new mats have a distinct rubber smell that dissipates after time but can hinder your practice initially.
• Support: If you don’t have joint pain, the standard 3mm-thick mat should be fine for you. But extra cushioning helps take the pressure off your joints, so it’s a smart consideration for anyone with knee issues, joint pain, or autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Look for a thick, dense mat, over a soft one, which can destabilize some practitioners in balancing postures, side planks and asymmetrical holds, Laroia said. 
• Ease of cleaning: It’s recommended that you clean your yoga mat after every use (especially for anyone who sweats heavily), so a mat that’s easy to clean is a necessity. Closed-cell designs are easier to clean, while open-cell designs requires more meticulous disinfection to remove dirt and sweat buildup.
• Value: Value is the combination of every category we judged the yoga mats on, plus its actual price point. We like to think that it’s better to invest more in a quality mat that lasts than to spend the money on several cheap mats in the same amount of time. So when choosing our budget pick, we also wanted to make sure it wasn’t some shoddy mat but something that delivers premium quality at a more wallet-friendly price.

What to look for when buying yoga mats

As a decades-long yoga practitioner and 200 RYT Hatha yoga teacher since 2017, I have personally tested, researched dozens of mats and brands, and spoken to trusted experts to find the best yoga mats for a variety of practices and lifestyles.

Quality, of course, comes with a higher price tag, Laroia explained. “But the quality of the mat is the foundation of your whole yoga experience.”

The most important factors to consider when shopping for a yoga mat are:

• Size and portability: You’ll often tote your mat along to the studio or need to stash it somewhere in a small apartment. Plus, some mats are longer than others, which is important if you’re tall.
• Stickiness: While certain people like sticky mats that keep their feet from sliding around, others find them annoying, providing too much hold when they want the freedom of movement.  This is a personal consideration.
• Thickness: Most yoga mats are 3mm thick, which will suffice for less-injured yogi. But considering every person has different abilities and a lot of people turn to yogi to mend an ailing body, mats with a thickness at 4mm and above will relish the extra protection and cushion for their joints.
• Firmness: Gondek explains that for beginner yogis, mats serve as important tools to help “improve your balance and joint position sense by gently challenging the vestibular system.” The right yoga mat can also teach you how to focus your attention through mindful connection between body and mind. “Practicing on a firm surface allows us to connect directly with our base of support, which is beneficial for people with poor balance, and allows us to maintain presence and focus during our practice, ” she says.
• Durability: You want a mat that’s going to last, so durability and longeviety also play into price.
• Materials: Most of the time, either your skin is touching the mat or your face is close to it, so you want one that isn’t made with harsh or harmful chemicals. It’s also important to opt for materials that are easy to wipe clean after a sweaty session of hot yoga. On top of all that, if you’re a conscious consumer, you want a mat made from more sustainable, recycled, or recyclable materials, rather than PVC or plastics.

What else we considered

What else we recommend

• YoGo Travel Yoga Mat ($68): This mat is lightweight, rolls up really small, and comes with durable buckles and handles. However, we prefer the Manduka Eko SuperLite as a travel mat, as it’s the same thickness and made from sustainable rubber, but $20 cheaper.
• Liforme Travel Mat ($115): Liforme’s travel mats come with a canvas carrying bag and offer the brand’s signature printed alignment guide, plus an incredibly grippy surface. But the Manduka Eko SuperLite is a more universal fit for traveling yogis and significantly cheaper.
• PrAna E.C.O. Yoga Mat ($55): Made from 100% thermoplastic elastomer, PrAna’s E.C.O. yoga mat is non-toxic, completely recyclable, and super sticky so your hands and feet won’t slide. The TPE material isn’t super cushy on your knees or back, but if you’re on a budget, this is an excellent option as it’s $39 cheaper than the Hugger Mugger Para Rubber Yoga Mat.
• Jade Level 1 Yoga Mat ($50): Touted as “beginner-friendly”, this mat has grippy bottom so your mat will stay put and an all-natural rubber construction. Its 4mm thickness and under $50 price tag have made this my go-to mat for cross-country road trips and short-haul travels.

What we don’t recommend

• : From a trusted yoga brand, this Gaiam mat is highly affordable, comes in many colorways, and has a decent non-slip grip. However,  it’s not as durable as other options, so you may end up spending more money down the line replacing it.
• Manduka ProLite Yoga Mat ($92): Its no-slip grip surface and lighter weight make this Manduka mat an appealing choice for yogis of all levels. However, Rumi Earth’s Sun Yoga Mat beat it for the Best Overall Yoga Mat since the Manduka mat is made from PVC and its closed-cell design means it’s more slippery when you’re sweating.

What we’re looking forward to trying

• Gurus Roots Cork Yoga Mat ($99): With an antimicrobial top — thanks to cork’s natural therapeutic properties — and all-natural rubber bottom (harvested from the owner’s family rubber trees in southern India), Gurus’s cork yoga mats are as sustainable as they come. Cork’s naturally non-slip surface means no yoga towels during your next hot yoga session. 
• Suga Yoga Mat ($79): This innovative Southern California-based brand collects your old neoprene wetsuits and converts them into yoga mats. Suga’s (rhymes with beluga) 5mm-thick recycled mats come in two sizes, regular and extra large. It also have a 3mm travel mat for yogis on the go.

FAQs

Why does a good yoga mat matter?

The right yoga mat can actually help prevent injury by cushioning pressure points like the knees, lower back, and hip bones, Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CSCS, physical therapist at Fusion Wellness and Physical Therapy in California told Insider. “Less joint pain can improve your activity tolerance during your yoga practice, allowing you to spend more time improving your mobility, flexibility, and strength in the areas you need it most,” she said.

Even the most able-bodies person will feel a different level of comfort between an uber-minimal or cheap mat, and a quality one at standard thickness. If you have any sort of joint pain, upgrading to a thicker mat (4mm+) will give you a world of relief.

Additionally, if you like heart-pumping Ashtanga or Vinyasa flows or who sweat easily during hot yoga, you’ll enjoy your practice a lot more if your mat has special sweat-absorbing properties. Meanwhile, those who travel often will benefit from foldable and lightweight mat for maintaining a daily practice on the road.

What is the best thickness for a yoga mat?

Standard yoga mats are 3mm thick, which keeps them lightweight, foldable, but cushioned enough to support your bones and joints from hard floors. However, if you have aches and pains in general or during certain poses, like chakravakasana (cat-cow pose) or anjaneyasana (low lunge pose), a thicker mat can help cushion pressure points, says Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CSCS, physical therapist at Fusion Wellness and Physical Therapy in California. This can be a slightly-thicker mat, like the Rumi Earth’s Sun Yoga Mat at 4.3mm thick, or significantly thicker, like the Manduka PRO at 6mm thick.

What is the difference between yoga mat and exercise mat?

Exercise mats are designed to provide max cushioning between your hands, knees, or spine and the floor so you can be comfortable while doing floor exercises. But too much cushioning can throw off your balance and stability.

Yoga mats are typically thinner than exercise mats so that your points of stability (e.g., hands, feet) can make better contact with the floor, providing better balance. But they are still thick enough to help cushion your joints from the hard surface.

A yoga mat can be used as an exercise mat, but an exercise mat doesn’t work so well for yoga.

How much should I spend on a yoga mat?

You should spend around $50-75 to score a quality yoga mat that will keep your hands and feet from slipping and last more than a year or two. The best cheap yoga mat we’ve found is from Hugger Mugger and runs about $45, while nicer mats made from sustainable materials and with more cushion can cost upwards of $120.

That being said, you can grab a basic yoga mat at a store like Target or Walmart for under $30. And if you’re just buying one to start stretching more, that’s fine. But cheaper mats will fall apart quicker and aren’t designed with features like grippiness, sweat-absorption, or cushioning to make yoga a comfortable experience.

Expert sources

As a decades-long yoga practitioner and 200 RYT Hatha yoga teacher since 2017, I have personally tested, researched dozens of mats and brands and spoken to others in the community about their experiences. For this article, I not only leaned on that expertise, but I also spoke with trusted experts to find the best yoga mats for a variety of practices and lifestyles, including:

• Dr. Kasia Gondek, DPT, CSCS, a licensed pelvic floor and orthopedic physical therapist at Fusion Wellness and Physical Therapy in Southern California and instructor of a biweekly “Yoga for Pelvic Pain” donation-based Zoom class that teaches those with pelvic, low back, and hip pain to be present in the moment and find pain-free movement based in Hatha and yin yoga styles.
• Vinita Laroia, a first-generation Indian-American 300 RYT yoga and meditation teacher based in California’s Sonoma County.

Other yoga coverage from Insider Reviews

• The best yoga accessories to elevate your home practice in 2021, according to yoga instructors
• The best yoga blocks
• The best yoga socks
• The best workout clothes for women